[Kiseki_Yoona]

So, I live in Seoul. I am also a foreigner, but I speak Korean. I used to have a pay as you go Cyon phone from LG telecom, but apparently for the 2 months I went home in the summer they sold my phone number to someone else. So, I went into the store and I was asking them if it would be possible for me to purchase another phone somewhere else (gmarket or an electronics mart, etc) and bring the phone to the store to activate it with a number. They were really rude and for the most part ignored me, and then tried to get me out of the store. (this was in Sinchon near Yonsei/Edae)

So here are my questions if anyone can help me-
1) Is it possible to buy a NEW phone (not second hand or used) from a store here, and then activate it at an SK/LG telecom store? I don't want to buy a used phone because they always try to give you REALLY old beaten up phones, which is kind of embarrassing when you whip them out to use them. I figure since I will be here for so long, getting a new phone won't kill me either.

2) If I buy a new phone, and CAN get it activated at a store- could I use it as a pay as you go phone or do I need to purchase a plan? I know that for the most part they don't usually let foreigners sign up for plans (even if you have a credit card/bank account, your alien registration card and your passport. It's just a taboo I guess.) The one store I found last time that *would* wanted me to put down a 350,000KRW deposit on my account, which I think is a little ridiculous (because for Korean's it's usually only 90,000KRW)

If any of the information I have is wrong, please correct me. I am going off of what I was told the last time I tried to purchase a phone, and information from friends. I hope that some of you can help me because right now I am cell phone-less in Seoul, which just won't do!

[j00n]

So, I live in Seoul. I am also a foreigner, but I speak Korean. I used to have a pay as you go Cyon phone from LG telecom, but apparently for the 2 months I went home in the summer they sold my phone number to someone else. So, I went into the store and I was asking them if it would be possible for me to purchase another phone somewhere else (gmarket or an electronics mart, etc) and bring the phone to the store to activate it with a number. They were really rude and for the most part ignored me, and then tried to get me out of the store. (this was in Sinchon near Yonsei/Edae)

So here are my questions if anyone can help me-
1) Is it possible to buy a NEW phone (not second hand or used) from a store here, and then activate it at an SK/LG telecom store? I don't want to buy a used phone because they always try to give you REALLY old beaten up phones, which is kind of embarrassing when you whip them out to use them. I figure since I will be here for so long, getting a new phone won't kill me either.

2) If I buy a new phone, and CAN get it activated at a store- could I use it as a pay as you go phone or do I need to purchase a plan? I know that for the most part they don't usually let foreigners sign up for plans (even if you have a credit card/bank account, your alien registration card and your passport. It's just a taboo I guess.) The one store I found last time that *would* wanted me to put down a 350,000KRW deposit on my account, which I think is a little ridiculous (because for Korean's it's usually only 90,000KRW)

If any of the information I have is wrong, please correct me. I am going off of what I was told the last time I tried to purchase a phone, and information from friends. I hope that some of you can help me because right now I am cell phone-less in Seoul, which just won't do!

Not sure what you're talking about. Every foreigner i know in Korea has a real cell phone plan. If you have a credit card you get a plan with TALK stores, otherwise you can try LG and SKT. If you're only staying in Korea less than a year than they won't give you a phone unless you pay for it up front because you're a flight risk. If you have a credit card though it doesn't matter they'll just charge the credit card.

[starrie]

I was in Korea for a month with my sister and my uncle was able to do like a pay as you go type of plan with an old phone that one of my cousins stopped using because they bought a new one. If I remember correctly, you pay a certain amount for the first time and when it runs out you can add more (any amount), if it's needed. I assume there's also some activation fees, etc. I don't know how much it was unfortunately.

I'm also pretty sure you can get a plan (and it's probably better to do so) if you're going to be living in Korea for an extended amount of time.

The place you went to sound kinds of douchey, I'd check out another location considering there's always 1 million SK/LG Telecoms everywhere.

[Kiseki_Yoona]

I was in Korea for a month with my sister and my uncle was able to do like a pay as you go type of plan with an old phone that one of my cousins stopped using because they bought a new one. If I remember correctly, you pay a certain amount for the first time and when it runs out you can add more (any amount), if it's needed. I assume there's also some activation fees, etc. I don't know how much it was unfortunately.

I'm also pretty sure you can get a plan (and it's probably better to do so) if you're going to be living in Korea for an extended amount of time.

The place you went to sound kinds of douchey, I'd check out another location considering there's always 1 million SK/LG Telecoms everywhere.

Thanks~~ one of my friends has an ice cream phone (they just bought a lollipop) that they were going to give me but I wasn't sure if you could do it that way. That helps me out alot actually! I'm glad to hear that someone has done it that way XD

I am going to a store in a different district today to see how much they will charge me to activate a plan- since Im a "high flight risk" its usually pretty high so we will see.

[SOJOONGHAE(:]

gmarket has stores were they sell you
cellphones and activate it for you aswell